The elastic-plastic contact of a single asperity of a rough surface

Abstract

A penetration of spherical asperity into the elastic-plastic hardening half-space is described. The elastic-plastic material properties correspond to Hollomon´s power law. In this case the empirical Meyer law relating a spherical indentation load with an indentation diameter d is used. Initially, the Meyer law is not related to the mechanical characteristics of the test material. The study used the relations between the strain hardening exponent n and the Meyer law constant obtained by S.I. Bulychev. The effects relating to elastic punching and plastic displacement of material are taked into account. It is shown that there is no need to define Meyer law constants. Expressions relating the value of the relative load magnitude to the relative indenter penetration magnitude are presented. The scope of application of the proposed equations is defined. A comparison of the obtained results with the experimental data and published data of the finite element analysis is given.